A woman's estate says she died after contracting a maggot-infested infection while living in a St. Louis nursing home.
Mary J. Baker, the administrator of Rosie Lee Loper's estate and her wrongful death heir, filed her lawsuit in federal court against St. Louis NH LLC and other related entities.
According to the complaint, Loper died due to a maggot-infested infection in her hand that developed at River Crossing Rehab and Healthcare Center, a facility owned and operated by St. Louis NH LLC.
On August 14, 2022, Loper's daughter alerted the nursing staff about an issue with her mother's hands, according to the complaint. It was discovered the certified nursing assistant had cut Loper's fingernails which had been cutting into her hands creating open areas. The lawsuit claims the facility deviated from standard care procedures by failing to keep Loper's fingernails short.
According to the filing, necrotic tissue in Loper's palms provided a breeding ground for maggots. The presence of maggots within the palm wounds indicates the facility was not appropriately cleaning and removing the devitalized tissue from her palms.
The lawsuit also names Ablehearts Midwest Healthcare LLC as a defendant, alleging it too was responsible for providing medical services to residents including Loper.